SABINA MIHUȚESCU: “You have to work with what you’re given.”
Sabina is an experienced communication specialist, with strengths in marketing strategy and communications, PR planning and event marketing. She has a thriving career in the Marcomm field, and now is working as a corporate marketing manager for 3Dconnexion in Monte Carlo, Monaco. But, let’s meet the human behind this spectacular career! Sabina is a sociable person who loves her work. She has enthusiasm, strong communication skills, creativity and a problem-solving attitude that drives her to maximize results. She is passionate about photography, travel, design and architecture, tech and lifestyle. Sabina shared her beautiful life story with us and we were fascinated about it. Read more about it in the interview bellow.
1. What inspired your journey into communication sciences and marketing, given your passion for storytelling and marketing campaigns in school? Did you always envision a thriving career in Marcom?
Simona: I like to think that I’ve always been a creative person, with a passion for storytelling. From a young age, I’ve enjoyed communication under its various aspects, showing a penchant for foreign languages. Back in school, I used to participate in German writing competitions – every time I got to craft a story, I was getting fully immersed into it, and it was such a great feeling! Even if I took the maths and IT specialisation in highschool, I guess it eventually became just a question of time until I decided to follow a career path revolving around communication. While I started out with public relations and communication sciences, adding the next layer of marketing and advertising studies allowed me to find that creative angle that fuels me.
2. Growing up attending German schools in Romania and later gaining professional experiences in the USA, UK, France, and Monaco, how has your language thinking evolved? Did you find yourself thinking in different languages professionally vs. personally?
Simona: Well, as you pointed out, I grew up attending a German school, which means that, until I reached university, German was my primary focus. We had English classes at school, and I took some additional French courses, but, to be completely honest with you, I never envisaged a professional career speaking English, as it was not something I had ever really focused on. However, once I started my first role for a Romanian start-up catering primarily to the US market, I think there was hardly any way back from working in English. Moving to London has only widened the gap, to the point that my brain instantly switches to English in a professional setting. Moreover, I have to recognise that my thinking patterns, the way to structure and articulate thoughts, and even the inner monologues I sometimes have with myself (please tell me I’m not the only one, ha-ha!) have been heavily influenced by the English language – and the culture that comes with it. If I spend more time in a different cultural- or language setting, I do find myself starting to be impacted by that – but English remains prevalent. I think it’s fascinating what an impact languages can have on us and on shaping our mindset in a certain way, beyond just the obvious spoken words.
3. If your career were a road-trip from Timisoara to Monaco, what would be the key stops and must-visit destinations alongside the way? Which experiences were the most impactful for you?
Simona: If the starting point is Timisoara, then the next stop, professionally speaking, would be London, where I spent five years. Prior to moving to London, I had my first “clash” with a different culture when spending a summer abroad in the US, with the back-then famous ‘Work & Travel’ program for students. That experience was eye-opening in many ways and for many reasons, largely because it pushed me outside of my comfort zone and made me deal with situations – and mentalities – I hadn’t run into until then, which have, at times, been rather challenging, yet highly rewarding. In a way, I think that summer contributed to me feeling that ‘there is more out there to explore’. This led to my decision to move to London – and to five years of amazing growth on both a professional and a personal level. When I traded London for the South of France – Nice, to be exact – I was expecting a much smoother transition, and hoping to find a business environment more similar to the one I had left behind. Like with any road-trip, you’re bound to hit some bumps in the road at some point, which for me meant adjusting to the new culture and the different mindset – not just in the private life, but also in business. I found working in a French start-up interesting, as professional values and standards were different to the ones I had been used to, which required a shift in mindset. Eventually, I started working in Monaco, where it is more common to find a fast-paced, international business environment, more similar to what I was used to from my London days.
4. Having immersed yourself in Romanian, American, British, French and Monegasque cultures, what similarities and differences have you observed?
Simona: I would probably be more inclined to group them: I found many similarities between American and British culture. One that possibly stands out most to me is the ‘can-do’ attitude, the strive for personal growth and development, and the entrepreneurial spirit. I would also say that they share a ‘cool head’ trait, to a much higher extent than Romanian and French (including Monegasque) culture. Romanians and French have more of a Latin spirit, more spark – but you know that sparks can easily cause fires too. That said, it seems to me that Romanians and French have, perhaps, a higher success whenever they need to be thrifty, which can be very useful. From a business perspective, one thing I’ve noticed across different cultures is that it’s not easy to find a good leader, a true mentor who leads by example and inspires you to grow. But fortunately, they do exist in every culture – and I was lucky enough to be able to learn from them along the way.
5. What distinctions in business models and employee branding have you observed between England, France, and Monaco?
Simona: For me, being in London is like stepping into the future. You have access to the latest industry knowledge, top-notch conferences, great business resources, and what I can only describe as mature working environments with employee-oriented policies recognizing the modern worker’s needs. It does also come with the expectancy that you need to be at the top of your game, at all times. The moment you get complacent, you might as well start looking for a new job. I’ve felt that this intensity is more toned down in France or Monaco – but, of course, it can vary greatly depending on the industry and the role you are in. What I miss a lot about London are all the employee perks like great gym offers, state-of-the art office buildings, relaxation corners, wellbeing support – even if it’s the hard, fast pace of things that brings on the need for these perks in the first place.
6. What are your passions and hobbies, and how do you integrate them into your routine to maintain a balance between personal and professional life?
Simona: I thrive in an international environment, and fortunately, my role as Corporate Marketing Manager who has to work with regional marketing teams puts me in a position that is very split between different regions and cultures. Plus, geographically speaking, we’re very spoiled in the French Riviera having Italy on our doorstep, plus several other destinations easily accessible. I absolutely love travelling and I enjoy spending time outdoors – and this region delivers strongly on both!
7. If you were to embark on a new journey in a country you haven’t yet explored professionally, what destination would you aim for and why?
Simona: I’m really drawn by Canada. I’ve had the opportunity to spend a week in Vancouver, BC, for work, and felt almost ‘at home’. It’s hard to explain, but to me it felt like ‘US meets UK’, combining some great aspects and traits of both cultures. The professional environment seemed really interesting, and I’ve loved the vibe of the region outside of work, with people spending so much time outdoors and really breath-taking scenery!
8. What do you believe has been your biggest differentiator in your career? What propelled you to where you are today? Your Unique Selling Proposition?
Simona: How does one answer this question without appearing vain haha?! In all seriousness, I’ve been very lucky to be given the opportunities that I have been given, and to have people believe in me, willing to invest in me. But if I were to leave modesty aside, I suppose that a natural curiosity, openness, empathy, being sociable, and a willingness to work for what I believe in have been very helpful in getting to where I am today.
9. Do you envision yourself returning to Romania? If so, what aspects of your daily life would you need to adjust or give up, considering those experiences not available in your mother-land?
Simona: Never say never, right? It’s hard to predict what the future holds for us. I would be lying if I said that I never thought about returning to Romania. But, same as moving from London to Nice, I think that the transition would not be entirely smooth. The moment you leave what you call “home” in order to find a new home is the moment you accept that you will maybe never experience the feeling of fully belonging somewhere again. Instead, you start becoming a complex puzzle, shaped by all the different places you’ve been in, and all the different experiences, mindsets and situations you’ve been exposed to. If I were to return to Romania, I’d love to think that I would be able to bring back some of the things I’ve learned along the way, and put them to good use.
10. Looking back five years ago, could you have anticipated your current professional trajectory?
Simona: Definitely not. Even moving to London was a ‘let’s see what happens’ – six months to a year temporary plan. If you had told me ten years ago that I would live in London, then move to the French Riviera and work in Monaco, I would have probably laughed. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again – I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunities that I had, and I’m thankful for many people that crossed my path. It’s been hard work, for sure, but worth every bit of it.
This or That?
1. Mountain view or seaside horizon?
Hard to choose, but I’d probably go with a nice mountain view! (Probably because I currently have the seaside horizon, and we always want what we don’t have haha!)
2. Exclusively marketing or PR?
Always had to use both for my roles, but if I had to choose to stay with one, it’d be marketing.
3. Vanilla or chocolate?
Depends – but inclining towards vanilla!
4. Morning person or late-night inspiration seeker?
Not a morning person ????
5. A year without vacation or a year without your job?
I love travelling sooooo… the answer is pretty obvious haha!